Hypertension is Louisiana’s and the Southeast region primary health care issues. While it is well acknowledged that Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is the major cardiovascular risk factor, it has increasingly become apparent that hypertension and kidney diseases are very closely linked. This center was developed to centralize and coordinate research activities related to cardiovascular, kidney, and hypertension diseases. Such diseases not only reduce the quality of life for individuals but also increase the costs of medical care. The center is composed of faculty from multi-disciplinary fields that are specifically dedicated to investigative efforts, patient care, and public education in the crucial areas of hypertension and kidney diseases.